Tony Blair/Timelines: Difference between revisions

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==1953-94==
Father's stroke, 1964.  Fettes College, 1966-71.  Oxford, 1972-1975.  Labour party membership, 1975.  Mother's death, 1975.
Law pupil of Derry Irvine, 1976-77. Bar Finals and entry to chambers, 1977.  Employment law practice, 1977-82.   Candidate for Beaconsfield by-election, 1982.


 
MP for Sedgefield, 1983.  Maiden speech to the House of Commons[http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/blairs+maiden+speech/467307].  Assistant spokesman on Treasury matters, 1984.   Deputy spokesman for Trade and Industry 1987.   Shadow Secretary of State for Employment, 1988.  Member of National Executive Committee of the Labour party, 1989.  Shadow Home Secretary, 1992.
__NOTOC__
 
{| align=left
|width=100px|'''1980's'''
|width=100px|'''1990's'''
|width=100px|'''2000's'''
|-
|valign=top |
*[[#1983 |1983]]
*[[#1984 to 1987 |1984 to 1987]]
*[[#1987 |1987]]
*[[#1988 |1988]]
*[[#1989 |1989]]
|valign=top |
*[[#1992 |1992]]
*[[#1994 |1994]]
*[[#1995 |1995]]
*[[#1996 |1996]]
*[[#1997 |1997]]
*[[#1998 |1998]]
*[[#1999 |1999]]
|valign=top rowspan=2|
*[[#2000 |2000]]
*[[#2001 |2001]]
*[[#2002 |2002]]
*[[#2003 |2003]]
*[[#2004 |2004]]
*[[#2005 |2005]]
*[[#2006 |2006]]
*[[#2007 |2007]]
|-
|colspan=2|
*[[#Sources |Sources]]
|}{{clear}}
 
==1983==
Tony Blair is elected as Labour MP for Sedgefield, in a general election that is won convincingly by [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s [[Conservative Party]]. [[Michael Foot]], the left-wing leader of the Labour Party resigns, and is replaced by [[Neill Kinnock]].
 
July 6th: Blair makes his maiden speech in the House of Commons ''"I am a socialist ... because I believe that, at its best, socialism corresponds most closely to an existence that is both rational and moral. It stands for cooperation, not confrontation; for fellowship, not fear."''
 
==1984 to 1987==
New Labour party leader [[Neil Kinnock]] appoints Blair as Assistant Spokesman on Treasury matters. Blair aligns himself with the reformers within the party.
 
==1987==
Appointed Deputy spokesman for Trade and Industry.  
==1988==
October: 
Blair is elected by the Parliamentary Labour Party to the shadow cabinet, and is given the post of shadow secretary of state for energy (Labour Party MPs elect some members of the shadow cabinet; others are appointed by the Party leader.)
 
==1989==
Blair is elected to be a Member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour party. This is a powerful position, as the National Executive decides which resolutions will be put before the annual Conference. Blair will use this position to promote changes in Labour Party policies and in its constitution.
 
==1992==
Promoted to shadow Home Secretary by new Labour Leader [[John Smith]]. Blair pledges that his party would be "tough on crime" and on "the causes of crime".
 
November:
[[Bill Clinton]] elected President of the USA.


==1994==  
==1994==  
May 12th:
May 12th:
The Labour Party leader John Smith dies of a heart attack.  
The Labour Party leader [[Tony Blair/Catalogs#Smith, John|John Smith]] dies of a heart attack.  


May 31st:
May 31st:
Tony Blair and [[Gordon Brown]] meet at the ''Granita'' restaurant in Islington, London. (Reports that a deal was done at that  meeting have since been denied<ref>See the [[Tony Blair/Addendum#Rivals (1994)|Granita meeting]]</ref>).  
Tony Blair and [[Gordon Brown]] discuss the leadership election at a private meeting at the ''Granita'' restaurant. (Reports that a deal was done at that  meeting have since been denied<ref>See the [[Tony Blair/Addendum#Rivals (1994)|Rivals 1994]]</ref>).  


June 1st:
June 1st:
Gordon Brown rules himself out of the Labour Party leadership race.  
Gordon Brown announces his support for Tony Blair's candidature.  


July 21st:
July 21st:
Tony Blair beats [[John Prescott]] and [[Margaret Beckett]] to become leader of the Labour Party. John Prescott is elected as his Deputy.
Leader of the Labour Party.  


October:
October:
Blair makes his first party conference speech as leader; he uses it to call on the party to revise its constitution and change Clause IV..
Speech to Labour party conference[http://keeptonyblairforpm.wordpress.com/1994-first-blair-speech-to-conference-as-party-leader/]
''We have changed. We were right to change. Parties that do not change die, and this party is a living movement not an historical monument''.


==1995==
==1997==
April:
===Legislation===
The Labour Party backs rewriting of Clause IV of its constitution, the clause that formerly committed the party to nationalisation of industry.
*Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/7/contents] - established the statutory authority for the establishment of a decommissioning commission and the for the granting of an amnesty against the prosecution of those who surrendered their weapons.


==1996==
===Events===
November:
May:
[[Bill Clinton]] re-elected President of the USA.
[[1997 United Kingdom general election|General election]] - Labour wins 419 of the 659 seats. [[Gordon Brown]] is appointed [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]].


==1997==
:Announcement that the [[Bank of England]] to be given responsibility for the execution of [[monetary policy]] in accordance with published government targets (see Bank of England Act 1998).  
March:
The ''Sun'' newspaper announces that it will back Blair at the general election. The ''Sun'' is Britain's biggest-selling daily newspaper, and had been a staunch supporter of the Conservative Party.
May 1st:
Labour wins the general election by a landslide, winning 419 of the 659 seats. At 44, Tony Blair becomes the second-youngest British prime minister. The Conservative leader [[John Major]] resigns, and is replaced by [[William Hague]].
Despite Labour's massive majority, Tony Blair seeks to involve leading members of the [[Liberal Democrat Party]] in his new Government; the Liberal Democrats choose to remain in opposition.  


Blair's Chancellor, [[Gordon Brown]] grants the [[Bank of England]] the freedom to set interest rates without consulting the government.  
June:
Britain signs the [[European Union]]'s "Social Chapter"[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/treaty-tightrope-the-social-chapter-what-it-is-and-why-conservatives-hate-it-1486124.html] of the EU's [[Maastricht Treaty]] - (with its directives on health and safety, working conditions, consultation of workers, sex equality with regard to job opportunities and treatment at work and protection of pensioners and unemployed).


June:
August 26:
Britain signs the [[European Union]]'s "Social Chapter"
Anglo-Irish agreement to set up an Independent International Commission on Decommissioning [http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Independent_International_Commission_on_Decommissioning](The Decommissioning Act, 1997 in Ireland and the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 in the United Kingdom)


August:
August 31:
Tony Blair reflects the mood of the nation on the death, in a traffic accident in France, of [[Princess Diana]], the estranged wife of [[Prince Charles]]. He calls her "the people's princess."  
Tony Blair mourns the death, in a traffic accident in France, of [[Princess Diana]], calling her "the people's princess."  


September:  
September:  
A referendum in Scotland backs devolution; a referendum in Wales follows a week later, and also backs devolution, but only narrowly.  
Devolution referendums in Scotland and Wales come out in favour (by 74.3% in Scotland and 50.3% in Wales)


October:
October:
Gordon Brown rules out the immediate prospects of Britain joining the euro setting five key economic tests that must first be met.  
Gordon Brown announces the [[Gordon Brown/Addendum#The Euro: the five tests|five tests]] that must be met before Britain joins the [[Euro|European Common Currency]].


Blair meets [[Gerry Adams]], the head of [[Sinn Fein]], the political wing of the [[Irish Republican Army]] (IRA).
December:
Backbench concern about proposed reductions in disability benefits[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/39285.stm]
 
<small>
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==1998==
==1998==
===Legislation===
* Bank of England Act, 1998[http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/about/legislation/1998act.pdf]
* Competition Act, 1998[http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/legal-powers/legal/competition-act-1998/.] - aligns UK law with EC law (prohibiting restrictive practices and the abuse of a dominant position}
* Crime and Disorder Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/37/contents] - Antisocial Behaviour Orders
* Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/40/contents] - enabled courts to take account of  a suspect's refusal to answer questions during the course of an investigation into membership of a terrorist organisation.
* Human Rights Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents] - gives  effect to rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights[http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=005&CL=ENG];
* Teaching and Higher Education Act [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/37/contents] - created a new professional standards  body (The General Teaching Council), and introduced tuition fees for university students
===Events===
April:  
April:  
Blair negotiates the Belfast Agreement ("The Good Friday Agreement") creating a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland.  
The Belfast Agreement<ref>[http://www.nio.gov.uk/agreement.pdf ''Agreement reached in the multi-party negotiations'', UK Northern Ireland Office, 1998]</ref> ("The Good Friday Agreement") creating a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland.  


May:  
September:
Referendum to create a new assembly for London and establish direct elections for mayor.  
[[NATO]] ultimatum to President Milosevic of [[Yugoslavia]] to cease aggression against [[Albania]]ns in [[Kosovo]][http://www.nato.int/docu/speech/1998/s980924c.htm].  


October: President Clinton signs the ''Iraq Liberation Act,1998''<ref>[http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/ILA.htm - ''Iraq Liberation Act  1998'']</ref> establishing US policy to remove the Saddam Hussein regime.


Britain, as part of [[NATO]], joins in the [[Kosovo]] war. Britain keeps thousands of troops there as part of a peacekeeping force.
December: [[Operation DESERT FOX|Operation Desert Fox]]: Britain and the USA launch air strikes against Iraq after reports that Saddam Hussein is not complying with United Nations weapons inspections.


December: Britain and the USA launch air strikes against Iraq after reports that Saddam Hussein is not complying with United Nations weapons inspections.
<small>
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==1999==
==1999==
===Policy statements and legislation===
* Immigration and Asylum Act 1999[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/33/contents] - replaced welfare benefits for asylum seekers with vouchers, introduced fines for transporting illegal immigrants, restricted the use of marriage for immigration purposes.
* Modernising Government White Paper[http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm43/4310/4310.htm] - "joined-up thinking" and the elimination of unnecessary regulations.
* The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Establishment and Constitution) Order 1999[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/220/contents/made].
===Events===
February:
Rambouillet Conference[http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/contact-g/default.asp?content_id=3560]  fails to establish a [[Kosovo]] settlement


March:
March:
NATO begins air strikes against Serb forces in Kosovo.
''Operation Allied Force''[http://www.nato.int/issues/kosovo_air/index.html] - air strikes against Serb forces in Kosovo.


May:
May:
First elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]] and for the [[Welsh National Assembly]]. In Scotland, the Labour Party wins an overall majority and takes power under First Minister [[Donald Dewar]]. In Wales, Labour wins the largest share of the vote, but The Welsh nationalists ([[Plaid Cymru]]) have their best ever election results; Welsh Secretary Alun Michael said: "The message is never take anything for granted. ..Treat even the safest Labour seats as marginals."
First elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]] and for the [[Welsh National Assembly]]. In Scotland, the Labour Party wins an overall majority and takes power under First Minister [[Donald Dewar]]. In Wales, Labour wins the largest share of the vote, (but the Welsh nationalists ([[Plaid Cymru]]) have their best ever election results).


June:
Withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo and the  end of the NATO bombing campaign.


June 9th:
September:
Yugoslavia and [[NATO sign]] an agreement at Kumanovo in Macedonia; this agreement, together with [[United Nations Security Council]] Resolution 1244 ends the NATO bombing campaign. At first limited to military targets in Kosovo itself, the bombing campaign had been extended to cover targets throughout Yugoslavia, including bridges, power stations, factories and government buildings.
Speech to the Labour Party Conference[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/460009.stm] "''  the 21st century will not be about the battle between capitalism and socialism but between the forces of progress and the forces of conservatism. ''"


August 9th:
<small>
[[Charles Kennedy]] is elected as leader of the [[Liberal Democrat (U.K.)|Liberal Democrats]], replacing [[Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon|Paddy Ashdown]].
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==2000==
==2000==
February 9th:
===Policy documents and legislation===
Blair loyalist Alun Michael is ousted as Welsh First Minister in a vote of no confidence in the Welsh National Assembly. He is replaced by Rhodri Morgan, who seeks to distance the Welsh Labour Party from some of the policies of the UK Labour Party.
* Freedom of Information Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents] - created a statutory right of access to information held by public authorities except  matters relating to security or parliamentary privilege, court records and personal information, and other matters, disclosure of which would be against the public interest.
* NHS Plan[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4002960] - a revised  delivery system;  changes between health and social services, career changes for  doctors and  nurses;  and a change in the relationship between the NHS and the private sector.
* Terrorism Act 2000[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/contents/enacted] - extends the definition of terrorism, increases powers of entry and arrest; permits judge-authorised 7-day detention of suspects without charge; enables the seizure of property and finance.


May 4th:
===Events===
Labour rebel [[Ken Livingstone]] wins the first London Mayoral election.
May 7th
Operation Palliser[http://www.hmforces.co.uk/training/articles/2110-operations-palliser-barras-sierra-leone---part-1]: British army stops the civil war in Sierra Leone


May 20th:  
May 20th:  
Leo Blair is born; the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister for more than 150 years.
Birth of son, Leo Blair - the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister for more than 150 years.
 
June 7th:
Speech to the Womens Institute[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/780486.stm] (heckled and slow handclapped)
 
September 5th:
Fuel protests over rise in petrol prices[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/8/newsid_2503000/2503119.stm]
 
September 26th:
Speech to Labour Party Conference[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2000/sep/26/labourconference.labour8] "'' And they think: you're not listening. What's it got to do with me? Where is this journey's end? And a fog descends on the very dialogue between Government and people necessary to get there...And, yes, there are things we have done that have made people angry and we should be open enough to admit it.  


November:
<small>
[[George W. Bush]] elected President of the USA.
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==2001==
==2001==
===Legislation===
Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jan/13/anti-terrorism-act] - enabled the home secretary to indefinitely detain, without charge or trial, foreign nationals who were suspected of terrorism, and .
limited appeal, except on a point od law,  to a closed  commission.
Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/16/notes/division/2http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/16/notes/division/2] - introduces on the spot penalties for disorderly behaviour; measures dealing with the consumption of alcohol in designated public places, the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18, drunkenness and disorder on licensed premises, permitting the police to close down licensed premises where disorder is occurring and measures to permit the police to close unlicensed premises selling alcohol
===Events===
February 15th:
British and American aircraft attack targets outside Baghdad<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/02/16/iraq.airstrike/  ''U.S., British warplanes hit targets outside Baghdad'', CNN, February 16, 2001]</ref>
February 19th: Outbreak of foot and mouth disease[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1760785.stm] triggering a year-long farming crisis with  the slaughter of thousands of pigs and cattle, and leading to calls for a public inquiry<ref>Journey p309</ref>
February 23rd:
Meeting with President Bush[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/02/20010226.html] - ''"We reaffirm our determination to oppose the development or use of WMD and ballistic missiles by Saddam Hussein and the threat his regime poses to its neighbors, while seeking to protect the Iraqi people from the brutality of Saddam Hussein and his indifference to their humanitarian needs. We call on Iraq to comply with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions."''
June:  
June:  
Labour wins another landslide general election, winning 413 of the 659 seats in the House of Commons, but the voter turnout is only 59 per cent. Conservative leader William Hague swifly resigns.
[[2001 United Kingdom general election|General election]]: - Labour re-elected by winning 413 of the 659 seats in the House of Commons on a reduced turnout (59 per cent).  


September 11th:  
September 11th:  
Terrorist attacks on the USA: four planes are hijacked by members of [[al-Qaeda]]; two are crashed into the [[World Trade Centre]], New York, a third into the [[Pentagon]], Washington.  
Terrorist attacks on the USA: four aeroplanes are hijacked by members of [[al-Qaeda]]; two are crashed into the [[World Trade Centre]], New York, a third into the [[Pentagon]], Washington.


After the attacks, Blair emerges as the strongest ally of President Bush's administration, supporting its "war on terror." In October, British and American forces enter [[Afghanistan]] to overthrow the [[Taliban]] regime and to weaken the al-Qaeda terrorist network.  
October 1st:
Speech to the Labour Party Conference[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/oct/02/labourconference.labour6] "''For those people who lost their lives on September 11 and those that mourn them; now is the time for the strength to build that community. Let that be their memorial.''" 


September 13th:
December:
Right winger [[Iain Duncan Smith]] beats [[Ken Clarke]] to replace William Hague as Conservative Party leader. Duncan-Smith was a rebel MP during [[John Major]]'s premiership, and has markedly "anti-European" views.
Afghanistan: the Security Council authorizes International Security Force for Afghanistan and welcomes United Kingdom’s offer to be initial lead nation. Resolution 1386 (2001) adopted unanimously[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/sc7248.doc.htm]
 
''Responsibility to Protect''. Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty[http://www.iciss.ca/pdf/Commission-Report.pdf]
 
<small>
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==2002==
==2002==
===Legislation===
* Education Act 2002[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/32/contents]
* Enterprise Act 2002[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/40/contents] - created the Office of Fair Trading and strengthened mergers policy.
* NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/17/contents] - reformed the distribution of functions between Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and set up the Council for the Regulation of Health Care Professionals.
* Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/41/contents]
===Events===
January 1st:
January 1st:
The euro becomes the main currency across the European Union; the UK is one of the few countries to remain outside it.
The euro becomes the main currency across the European Union
 
January 15th
Foundation hospital plan announced[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2002/jan/15/publicservices.uk2]
- (independent  self-governing legal entities with their own borrowing powers that are subject to the rules of the NHS but are independent of government departments and health authorities[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4126013])
    
    
February 3rd:  
February 3rd:  
In a speech at the Labour Party annual conference, Blair attacks "wreckers" within the Party who stand in the way of public service reforms.
Speech at the Labour Party annual conference[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/oct/01/labourconference.labour] ''We're at our best when we're at our boldest''.
 
March 8th:
Cabinet considers the  Iraq "Options Paper"[http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9124.htm] (the paper concludes that: ''"despite the considerable difficulties, the use of overriding force in a ground campaign is the only option that we can be confident will remove Saddam and bring Iraq back into the international community"'').
 
April 8th:
Meeting with President Bush at his ranch at Crawford, Texas ("The Crawford meeting") - including a one-to-one meeting with no advisers present:  ''The only commitment I gave, and I gave  this very openly, at the meeting was a commitment to  deal with Saddam ''(Tony Blair in testimony to the Chilcot inquiry.<ref>[http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/45139/20100129-blair-final.pdf testimony to the Chilcot Inquiry, 29 January 2010, page 41]</ref>).
 
Speech at the George Bush Senior Presidential Library ("The Texas speech")[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2002/apr/08/foreignpolicy.iraq] -  "''...we must be prepared to act where terrorism or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threaten us...If necessary the action should be military and again, if necessary and justified, it should involve regime change... leaving Iraq to develop WMD, in flagrant breach of no less than nine separate UN security council resolutions, refusing still to allow weapons inspectors back to do their work properly, is not an option.''


Blair unveils an intelligence dossier (later to be called the "dodgy dossier"), and claims that it shows that Iraq could deploy banned weapons "within 45 minutes".
September 24th: Publication of the Joint Intelligence Committee's dossier of evidence concerning Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, with a foreword by Tony Blair[http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/IRAQANDWMD.pdf] in which he said "''"What I believe the assessed intelligence has  established beyond doubt is that Saddam has continued to  produce chemical and biological weapons."''.


==2003==
November 8th:
Blair argues for the overthrow of Iraqi leader [[Saddam Hussein]], based mainly on his alleged possession of [[weapons of mass destruction]].  
United Nations Resolution 1441<ref>[http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/unscr1441.htm United Nations Resolution 1441]</ref>  - "''Recalling that its resolution 678 (1990) authorized Member States to use all necessary means to uphold and implement its resolution 660 (1990) of 2 August 1990 and all relevant resolutions subsequent to resolution 660 ...Decides that Iraq has been and remains in material breach of its obligations under relevant resolutions''".


February 15th:
<small>
An estimated million people march through London to oppose war with Iraq.  
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>
 
==2003==
===Legislation===
* Anti-social Behaviour Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/38/contents] - gave police new powers to deal with misbehaviour
* Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/43/contents]
* Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission etc.) Act 2003 [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/25/contents]
 
===Events===
January 23rd: Meeting with President Bush  (at the Chilcot inquiry in 2010, Tony Blair answered yes to the question ''Was your main objective at that meeting to convince the President that, just as you had  convinced him that it was important to go through the UN  to get the first resolution, that now it was necessary to  get a second resolution?'' <ref>[http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/45139/20100129-blair-final.pdf testimony to the Chilcot Inquiry, 29 January 2010, pages 96-104]</ref>).
 
February 3rd:
Publication of  second intelligence dossier ''Iraq-its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation''[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100511095250/http://number10.gov.uk/archive/2003/02/iraq-its-infrastructure-of-concealment-deception-and-intimidation-2-1470] ''(this document was removed from the national archives in April 2010)''
 
February 5th:
US secretary of state's address to the United Nations Security Council[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/feb/05/iraq.usa]. "''Iraq has now placed itself in danger of the serious consequences called for in U.N. Resolution 1441. And this body places itself in danger of irrelevance if it allows Iraq to continue to defy its will without responding effectively and immediately''".
 
March 4th:
Mori poll indicates that 75% of  Britons are in favour of an Iraq war[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article156417.ece].


March 16th:  
March 7th: Attorney General's advice <ref>[http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/notices/annex_a_-_attorney_general%27s_advice_070303.pdf  Peter Goldsmith: Iraq: Resolution 1441]</ref> - "''... I remain of the opinion that the safest legal course would be to secure the adoption of a further resolution to authorise the use of force ... Nevertheless, I accept that a reasonable case can be made that resolution 1441 is capable in principle of reviving the authorisation in 678 without a further resolution.''"
Blair, Bush and Spanish Premier Jose Maria Aznar announce they will seek support for military action against Iraq.  


March 17th:
March 17th:
Left wing Labour MP Robin Cook resigns his Ministerial post (Leader of the House of Commons) because of his opposition to attacking Iraq.
Resignation speech by Robin Cook (Leader of the House of Commons) <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2859431.stm ''Cook's resignation speech'', BBC News 18th March 2003]</ref>  - "'' Britain is being asked to embark on a war without agreement in any of the international bodies of which we are a leading partner"''.


March 18th:
March 18th:
139 Labour MPs vote against the government's decision to go to war with Iraq. Nevertheless, with Conservative support, the Government wins the Commons vote comfortably.
Declaration of war. The House of Commons motion that the Government should "''use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction''"[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030318/debtext/30318-06.htm] was carried. Tony Blair, proposing, said : "''To retreat now, I believe, would put at hazard all that we hold dearest, turn the UN back into a talking shop, stifle the first steps of progress in the Middle East; leave the Iraqi people to the mercy of events on which we would have relinquished all power to influence for the better''".
The voting for/against was  412/149. (Labour 254/84, Conservative 146/2 Lib Dem 0/52[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2003-03-18&number=118])


March 19th:
March 17th:
Britain sends 45,000 troops to join the U.S.-led "coalition of the willing" invasion of Iraq.  
Ultimatum to Iraq by President Bush "''All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end. Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict ...''"[http://articles.cnn.com/2003-03-17/world/sprj.irq.bush.transcript_1_weapons-inspectors-iraq-regime-disarmament/2?_s=PM:WORLD].
March 20th:
[[Iraq War]] - US forces launch first air strikes on Baghdad.


March 20th:  
March 27th:
War on Iraq begins as US forces launch first air strikes on Baghdad.
The "Coalition of the Willing": The  White House lists 49 countries that have offered to support "Operation Iraq Freedom"[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030327-10.html] including Japan, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the UK.
The next day, US and British forces launch a massive aerial assault on Baghdad in what the US called its "shock and awe" strategy. The Iraqi regime falls after three weeks, but Saddam Hussein escapes capture. Bush declares an end to major combat operations on May 1st. British troops remain in Iraq, mainly based around Basra in the south of the country


May 1st:
May 1st: President Bush declares an end to major combat operations in Iraq
In Wales, the Labour party under Rhodri Morgan win enough seats in elections to the National Assembly to govern alone (i.e. without coalition partners)


May 12th
May 12th
Left-winger Clare Short resigns from the Cabinet, saying that Tony Blair had broken promises about the future of Iraq .
Resignation letter from cabinet minister Clare Short<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3019983.stm ''Short resignation letter in full'', BBC News 12ty May 2003]</ref> -  ''"the assurances you gave me about the need for a UN mandate to establish a legitimate Iraqi government have been breached"''.  
    
    
May 29th:  
May 29th:  
On the ''Today'' programme, the BBC journalist and broadcaster Andrew Gilligan reports allegations that the government enhanced ("sexed-up") its intelligence dossier on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction.
On the BBC's ''Today'' programme, defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan says that he had been "''told by one of the officials in charge of the dossier that, actually the government probably knew that the 45 minute figure was wrong even before it had decided to put it in''" and that "''Downing Street... ordered it to be sexed up''"
 
July 9th:  
July 9th:  
The Ministry of Defence names Dr David Kelly, a biological warfare expert with the British Ministry of Defence as the source for Andrew Gilligan's report.
The Ministry of Defence names Dr David Kelly, a biological warfare expert with the British Ministry of Defence as the source for Andrew Gilligan's report.
Line 206: Line 253:
David Kelly is found dead, apparently having committed suicide.  
David Kelly is found dead, apparently having committed suicide.  


August:  
July 17th:
An inquiry into Kelly's death and the circumstances leading up to it begins, led by Lord Hutton.
Address to the  US Congress,  accepting  the Congressional Gold Medal.
 
July 21st
Announcement of an inquiry into the death of Dr Kelly to be led by Lord Hutton[http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/content/hi-pn210703.htm]


July 17th:
August 28th
Blair addresses US Congress, to accept the Congressional Gold Medal.
Tony Blair's testimony to the Hutton inquiry[http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/content/transcripts/hearing-trans22.htm]
 
 
July 18th:  
November:
Government weapons expert Dr David Kelly is found dead in woods near his home.
Meeting at Admiralty House at which Tony Blair promises to resign before the next election provided that Gordon Brown supports his policy agenda.
Dr Kelly apparently committed suicide days after giving evidence to MPs about the dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. He was suspected of being the source for a BBC story which alleged the dossier was "sexed up". The next day, Blair launches an inquiry into the tragedy, headed by Lord Hutton.  
 
<small>
August 29th:
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
Downing Street media chief Alastair Campbell resigns.
</small>
September 18th:
Labour loses the Brent East byelection to the Liberal Democrats.
 
October 19th:
Blair suffers irregular heartbeat and spends a few hours in hospital.
 
December 14th
US forces capture Saddam Hussein hiding in a hole near Tikrit. He will later be tried by an Iraqi court and executed.


==2004==
==2004==
===Legislation===
* Asylum and Immigration (treatment of claimants etc) Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/19/contents]
* Civil Partnership Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/33/notes/division/2] enabled same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship by forming a civil partnership (marriage in all but name).
* Higher Education Act 2004[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/8/contents] - replaces the fixed student  charge of £1125 by variable fees of up to £3000, and introduces student loans in place of fees.
===Events===


January 27th:  
January 27th:  
The government narrowly wins a vote on university top-up fees; 72 Labour MPs rebelled, and the government won by just five votes. The measure means that Universities in England and Wales can now raise extra income from student fees (up to a limit of £3,000/year for each student), but must use some of this to support poorer students.
Debate on the Higher Education Bill[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040127/debtext/40127-06.htm] 72 Labour MPs rebelled, and the government won by just five votes.  


January 28th:   
January 28th:   
The Hutton Report determines that Kelly took his own life, and that the BBC allegations were unfounded. The chairman and director-general of the BBC, and Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who made the allegations, all resign.
The Hutton Report determines<ref>[http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/content/report/chapter12.htm#a90 The Hutton Report Chapter 12]</ref>  that Kelly took his own life, and that the BBC allegations were unfounded. The chairman and director-general of the BBC, and Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who made the allegations, all resign.


February:  
February:  
Blair names a panel to conduct an inquiry into pre-war intelligence, led by Lord Butler.  
Appointment of a panel to conduct an inquiry into pre-war intelligence, led by Lord Butler.  


25 March:
25 March:
Blair holds talks with Libyan leader [[Colonel Gaddafi]], after Libya renounced Weapons of Mass Destruction in December. Diplomatic relations between the two countries had been extremely frosty for many years; Blair hails this as the start of a "new relationship".  
Talks with Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]], after Libya renounced weapons of mass destruction in December.  
 
April 20th:  
April 20th:  
Blair announces there will be a referendum on the proposed new EU constitution, saying that he would "let the people have a final say".  
Announcement of a proposed referendum on a new EU constitution.  
   
   
June 10th:  
June 15th: ''A New Relationship with Schools''[http://publications.education.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=A+New+Relationship+with+Schools+Publication]  published jointly by Ofsted and DfES .
At local government elections Labour lose more than 450 seats, but Ken Livingstone is comfortably re-elected as Mayor of London.
 
July:
10-year science & innovation investment plan<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/science_innovation_120704.pdf ''Science & innovation investment framework 2004 - 2014'', HM Treasury, July 2004]</ref>.
   
   
July 14th:
July 14th:
Line 252: Line 301:


September 15th:
September 15th:
Blair makes a speech on climate change and says that action is urgently needed to combat global warming.
Speech on the urgent need for action on climate change.
 
September 30th: Iraq Survey Group Final Report[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/2004/isg-final-report/] - "''There is an extensive, yet fragmentary and circumstantial, body of evidence suggesting that Saddam pursued a strategy to maintain a capability to return to WMD after sanctions were lifted by preserving assets and expertise. In addition to preserved capability, we have clear evidence of his intent to resume WMD as soon as sanctions were lifted''".  
    
    
October 1st:
October 1st:
Blair announces that if he wins the next election he will quit before the end of his third term.
Tony Blair announces that if he wins the next election he will serve a full term[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3706630.stm].
 
October 13th
Michael Howard accuses Tony Blair of lying about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo041013/debtext/41013-03.htm].


November: George Bush is re-elected President of the USA.
November: George Bush is re-elected President of the USA.


December 15th:
 
[[David Blunkett]] resigns as Home Secretary over visa row, after it emerges that a visa application for his ex-lover's nanny had been fast-tracked
<small>
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==2005==
==2005==
April 5th:  
===Policy documents and legislation===
Blair calls a general election, one year earlier than he needs to.  
* Constitutional Reform Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/4/contents] - created a new Supreme Court; removed the Law Lords from membership of the House of Lords; changed the office of Lord Chancellor so that the holder is no longer the formal head of the judiciary; provided a statutory guarantee to uphold judicial independence and the rule of law.


* Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/2/contents] - enables Ministers to issue a "control order"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6268959.stm] (an order to place a terrorism suspect under close supervision). 
* White Paper  Cm 6472 ''Controlling our borders: Making migration work for Britain''[http://www.archive2.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm64/6472/6472.pdf] - A five-year plan to crack down on illegal immigrants and  provide for their removal, including fines for colluding employers. A proposal for the introduction of a points system based upon industry's needs for skills.
* White Paper Cm 6476 ''14-19 Education and Skills''[http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/documents/14-19whitepapersum.pdf]
===Events===
May 5th:
May 5th:
Blair becomes the first leader of the Labour party to win three consecutive terms as prime minister. The Labour Party defeats Michael Howard's Conservative Party comfortably, but with a much reduced majority overall of 64 seats.
[[2005 United Kingdom general election|General election]]: the Labour government remains in power  but with a much reduced parliamentary majority of 64 seats.
   
   
May 29th:  
May 29th:  
French voters reject the EU proposed constitution in a referendum. The Dutch reject it three days later. Blair scraps plans to hold a referendum in the UK, as the prospects for the new constitution now seem dead.
French voters reject the EU proposed constitution in a referendum.
 
June 15-17:
European Union summit[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/06/17/eu.summit/index.html] - British officials reject a budget plan for the years 2007-2013, after offering to freeze Britain's budget rebate in return for a  guarantee that the EU's system of agricultural subsidies would be overhauled.  
    
    
June 23rd:  
June 23rd:  
In a speech at the start of the UKs six month European Union presidency, Blair says that the EU faces a leadership crisis. The speech is a week after a summit meeting in which Tony Blair refused to give up the UK's £3bn annual refund from the EU budget unless there were reforms to farm subsidies. He said the EU would fail "on a grand scale" if it did not face up to globalisation. 
Speech to the European Parliament[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/06/23/blair.europe.text/index.html] "''If we [are]... prepared to send back some of the unnecessary regulation, peel back some of the bureaucracy and become a champion of a global, outward-looking, competitive Europe -- then it will not be hard to capture the imagination and support of the people of Europe.''"
 
July 6th:
July 6th:
London wins bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.  
London wins bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.  
    
    
July 7th:  
July 7th:  
Suicide bombers kill 52 people in attacks on London mass transport, as a protest about Britain's actions in Iraq.  
Suicide bombers kill 52 people in attacks on London mass transport.  
    
    
July 8th:
July 8th:
The [[G8]] summit in Edinburgh, Scotland is accompanied by large demonstrations ("Make Poverty History"). It ends with an agreement to boost aid for developing countries by $50 billion.  
The [[G8]] summit in Edinburgh, agrees to increase aid for developing countries by $50 billion.<br>
 
"''if we actually make sure that there is universal access, right, to HIV-Aids treatment by 2010, ...  put the money we say we are going to put through aid and give primary education to young people in Africa ... . establish the peace-keeping force that we have got there, plus the money necessary to do it ... ''"  (press conference 8 July 2005[http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/summit/2005gleneagles/blair_050708.html] ) 
July 21st:
A second wave of terrorist attacks on London transport; this time the bombs fail to detonate, and the perpetrators are caught swiftly.  
 
August 6th:
The former Cabinet minister Robin Cook, who had resigned in protest at Government policy on Iraq, dies aged 59. Robin Cook was seen as the only leftwinger likely to be able to make a credible challenge for the leadership of the Labour Party.
 
November 9th:
November 9th:
Blair suffers his first defeat in the House of Commons on the Terrorism Act; many Labour MPs vote against plans that would have enabled the police to detain a suspected terrorist for up to 90 days without charges being brought.  
Government  defeat in a House of Commons debate on the clause in  Terrorism Act that would have enabled the police to detain a suspected terrorist for up to 90 days without charge.
 
December 6th:
<small>
David Cameron is elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. David Cameron is seen as a young, "telegenic" moderniser in the mould of Tony Blair, and will seek to broaden the appeal of the Conservative Party to the centre ground. The Conservative Party's popularity rises sharply in opinion polls.
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==2006==
==2006==
January 6th:
===Legislation===
Charles Kennedy resigns as leader of the Liberal Democrats after admitting to a drink problem. He is replaced, on 2 March, by Menzies Campbell.  
* Education and Inspections Act 2006[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/educationandinspectionsact/docs/Guide%20to%20the%20Education%20and%20Inspections%20Act.pdf]
 
* Equality Act 2006[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/3/notes/contentshttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/3/notes/contents] - created the Equality and Human Rights Commission with a remit to make a progress report to Parliament every 3 years
March 15th:
* Health Act 2006[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldbills/076/en/06076x--.htm]: Prohibited of smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces.
Tony Blair gains endorsement by the House of Commons for controversial school reform plans, but only because of Conservative support; 52 Labour backbenchers rebelled and another 25 did not vote.  
* Identity Cards Act[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/15/contents] - created the legal framework to establish a national identity register and to issue identity cards (never applied to British citizens)
* Immigration, Asylum and Nationality  Act[http://www.legislatio.n.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/13/contents]
March 16th:
* Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006[http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/transitional/info_office/Act.pdf] - provided for the restoration of devolved government
Labour's treasurer Jack Dromey reveals he did not know that the party had secretly borrowed millions of pounds from businessmen. He said that the Electoral Commission should investigate the issue of loans to political parties from non-commercial sources. Home Secretary Charles Clarke denies that money had been borrowed in exchange for promises of honours ("cash for honours"). 
* Racial and Religious Hatred Act
 
* Terrorism Act 2006[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/11/contents] -extends the maximum period of detention without trial of terrorist suspects from 14 to 28 days.
May 4th:
 
Labour loses more than 300 councillors in local government elections in England, one of the worst local election results in Labour's history.
===Events===
May 23rd:
Labour back bench revolt over schools bill[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/may/24/uk.schools]
 
July 12th:
July 12th:
Lord Levy is arrested and bailed by police as part of their investigation of the "cash for honours" allegations. Lord Levy, who was Tony Blair's chief fundraiser, denied any wrongdoing and accuses the police of using their arrest powers "totally unnecessarily".  
Fundraiser Lord Levy<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4816692.stm ''Lord Levy: Labour's fundraiser'', BBC News March 6 2007]</ref>  is arrested and bailed by police as part of their investigation of the "cash for honours" allegations[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/jul/12/partyfunding.uk1].  
 
September 6th:
September 5th:
Reports of  an "acrimonious meeting" between Blair and Brown over the succession issue are followed by the resignation of a junior minister and seven government aides who had urged Blair to resign.  
One minister and four government aides are among 17 Labour MPs who have written to Tony Blair urging him to quit[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5314632.stm].
 
September 7th:
Tony Blair confirms that he will step down as prime minister within the next 12 months[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm]. 
   
   
September 12th:
September 12th:
Blair's last speech to the Trades Union Congress.
Tony Blair's last speech to the Trades Union Congress.
    
    
September 26th:
September 26th:
Final speech as leader of the Labour Party at the party conference; Blair gets a warm reception from delegates, who give his speech a prolonged standing ovation.
Speech to the Labour Party Conference[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5382590.stm]
 
 
October 13th: The St Andrews Agreement[http://www.nio.gov.uk/st_andrews_agreement.pdf] between the governments of the UK and Ireland that lead to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
 
November 15th:
The Queen's Speech to the State Opening of Parliament - Tony Blair's final legislative programme[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article637716.ece]
 
December 14th:
December 14th:
Police interview Blair about the "cash for honours" allegations. The Crown Prosecution Service will later decide that there is insufficient basis for criminal charges to be brought against anyone.
Police interview Tony Blair about the [[Tony Blair/Addendum#The "cash for honours" investigation|"cash for honours"]] allegations.
 
<small>
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>


==2007==
==2007==
May 9th: [[Ian Paisley]] is sworn in as the First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly. [[Martin McGuinness]], once a prominent [[IRA]] commander, is  his deputy.
May 8th: Restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/world/europe/08iht-08irelandcnd.5615646.html]. - announced by the Reverend Ian Paisley, head of the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Gerry Adams,  head of the Catholic Sinn Fein. ''"We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children."'' (Ian Paisley). ''"The beginning of a new era of politics on this island."'' (Gerry Adams).
 
May 10th: Resignation speech at his Sedgefield constituency [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/may/10/labourleadership.labour2] "''This is the greatest nation on earth. It has been an honour to serve it. I give my thanks to you, the British people, for the times I have succeeded, and my apologies to you for the times I have fallen short.
 
June 27th: Last Prime Minister's Questions  ''"I wish everyone, friend or foe well, and that is that, the end."''
 
==2008==
June: ''High Quality Care For All NHS Next Stage Review Final Report'', [http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_085828.pdf]
 
<small>
[[Tony Blair/Timelines#1953-71|RETURN TO TOP]]
</small>
 
==2009==
December 12th:
Interview with Fern Britton[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8408918.stm] - asked whether he would still have gone on with plans to join the US-led invasion had he known at the time that there were no WMD. He said: "''I would still have thought it right to remove him. I mean obviously you would have had to use and deploy different arguments, about the nature of the threat."''
 
==2010==
January 29th:
Tony Blair's evidence to the Iraq Inquiry [http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/45139/20100129-blair-final.pdf] (transcript) [http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/transcripts/oralevidence-bydate/100129.aspx] (Video)
 
March 9th:
Report of House of Lords and House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200910/jtselect/jtrights/85/85.pdf] - dealing with adverse judgments by the European Court of Human Rights and declarations of incompatibility issued by the domestic courts under the Human Rights Act.


May 4th: Another bad result for Labour in local Government elections, though not as bad as expected. In elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]], the Labour Party loses power; the largest single party in the new Parliament is the pro-independence [[Scottish National Party]], and it takes power as a minority Government under its leader [[Alex Salmond]].
==2011==


May 10th: Official announcement that Blair will resign as Prime Minister on June 27th
==2012==
Second statement to the Chilcot Enquiry [http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/50743/Blair-statement.pdf]


June 27th: Last appearance by Tony Blair in the House of Commons, for Prime Minister's question time. The session ends with an unprecedented 2-minute standing ovation from all members of the House of Commons, political friends and foes alike.
==References==


==Sources==
::References, with page numbers, to Tony Blair's memoirs (Tony Blair: ''A Journey'', Hutchinson, 2010)  are shown as "Journey (xxx)", and <br>references to Anthony Seldon's biography (Anthony Seldon: ''Blair'',  Free Press, 2004) are shown as "Blair (xxx)".
*''Times online:'' [http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/flash/blairtimeline/index.html The Blair years']
{{reflist}}
*''CNN:'' '[http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/Flash/2007/05/10/4169702.html Tony Blair timeline']
*''Financial Times:22 '[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5a9e4ac4-3e64-11db-b4de-0000779e2340,dwp_uuid=32122ec0-3844-11db-ae2c-0000779e2340.html Blair’s career highlights']
*''CBC News:'' '[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/blair_tony/timeline.html Tony Blair's political career - a timeline']
*''BBC News:'' '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6625869.stm Timeline: The Blair Years']
*''BBC News:'' '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322946.stm Timeline: Blair vs Brown']

Latest revision as of 16:57, 29 March 2024

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A timeline (or several) relating to Tony Blair.

1953-94

Father's stroke, 1964.  Fettes College, 1966-71.  Oxford, 1972-1975.  Labour party membership, 1975.  Mother's death, 1975. Law pupil of Derry Irvine, 1976-77. Bar Finals and entry to chambers, 1977.  Employment law practice, 1977-82.  Candidate for Beaconsfield by-election, 1982.

MP for Sedgefield, 1983.  Maiden speech to the House of Commons[1].  Assistant spokesman on Treasury matters, 1984.   Deputy spokesman for Trade and Industry 1987.   Shadow Secretary of State for Employment, 1988.  Member of National Executive Committee of the Labour party, 1989.  Shadow Home Secretary, 1992.

1994

May 12th: The Labour Party leader John Smith dies of a heart attack.

May 31st: Tony Blair and Gordon Brown discuss the leadership election at a private meeting at the Granita restaurant. (Reports that a deal was done at that meeting have since been denied[1]).

June 1st: Gordon Brown announces his support for Tony Blair's candidature.

July 21st: Leader of the Labour Party.

October: Speech to Labour party conference[2] We have changed. We were right to change. Parties that do not change die, and this party is a living movement not an historical monument.

1997

Legislation

  • Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997[3] - established the statutory authority for the establishment of a decommissioning commission and the for the granting of an amnesty against the prosecution of those who surrendered their weapons.

Events

May: General election - Labour wins 419 of the 659 seats. Gordon Brown is appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Announcement that the Bank of England to be given responsibility for the execution of monetary policy in accordance with published government targets (see Bank of England Act 1998).

June: Britain signs the European Union's "Social Chapter"[4] of the EU's Maastricht Treaty - (with its directives on health and safety, working conditions, consultation of workers, sex equality with regard to job opportunities and treatment at work and protection of pensioners and unemployed).

August 26: Anglo-Irish agreement to set up an Independent International Commission on Decommissioning [5](The Decommissioning Act, 1997 in Ireland and the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 in the United Kingdom)

August 31: Tony Blair mourns the death, in a traffic accident in France, of Princess Diana, calling her "the people's princess."

September: Devolution referendums in Scotland and Wales come out in favour (by 74.3% in Scotland and 50.3% in Wales)

October: Gordon Brown announces the five tests that must be met before Britain joins the European Common Currency.

December: Backbench concern about proposed reductions in disability benefits[6]

RETURN TO TOP

1998

Legislation

  • Bank of England Act, 1998[7]
  • Competition Act, 1998[8] - aligns UK law with EC law (prohibiting restrictive practices and the abuse of a dominant position}
  • Crime and Disorder Act[9] - Antisocial Behaviour Orders
  • Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act[10] - enabled courts to take account of a suspect's refusal to answer questions during the course of an investigation into membership of a terrorist organisation.
  • Human Rights Act[11] - gives effect to rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights[12];
  • Teaching and Higher Education Act [13] - created a new professional standards body (The General Teaching Council), and introduced tuition fees for university students

Events

April: The Belfast Agreement[2] ("The Good Friday Agreement") creating a power-sharing assembly in Northern Ireland.

September: NATO ultimatum to President Milosevic of Yugoslavia to cease aggression against Albanians in Kosovo[14].

October: President Clinton signs the Iraq Liberation Act,1998[3] establishing US policy to remove the Saddam Hussein regime.

December: Operation Desert Fox: Britain and the USA launch air strikes against Iraq after reports that Saddam Hussein is not complying with United Nations weapons inspections.

RETURN TO TOP

1999

Policy statements and legislation

  • Immigration and Asylum Act 1999[15] - replaced welfare benefits for asylum seekers with vouchers, introduced fines for transporting illegal immigrants, restricted the use of marriage for immigration purposes.
  • Modernising Government White Paper[16] - "joined-up thinking" and the elimination of unnecessary regulations.
  • The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Establishment and Constitution) Order 1999[17].

Events

February: Rambouillet Conference[18] fails to establish a Kosovo settlement

March: Operation Allied Force[19] - air strikes against Serb forces in Kosovo.

May: First elections to the Scottish Parliament and for the Welsh National Assembly. In Scotland, the Labour Party wins an overall majority and takes power under First Minister Donald Dewar. In Wales, Labour wins the largest share of the vote, (but the Welsh nationalists (Plaid Cymru) have their best ever election results).

June: Withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo and the end of the NATO bombing campaign.

September: Speech to the Labour Party Conference[20] " the 21st century will not be about the battle between capitalism and socialism but between the forces of progress and the forces of conservatism. "

RETURN TO TOP

2000

Policy documents and legislation

  • Freedom of Information Act[21] - created a statutory right of access to information held by public authorities except matters relating to security or parliamentary privilege, court records and personal information, and other matters, disclosure of which would be against the public interest.
  • NHS Plan[22] - a revised delivery system; changes between health and social services, career changes for doctors and nurses; and a change in the relationship between the NHS and the private sector.
  • Terrorism Act 2000[23] - extends the definition of terrorism, increases powers of entry and arrest; permits judge-authorised 7-day detention of suspects without charge; enables the seizure of property and finance.

Events

May 7th Operation Palliser[24]: British army stops the civil war in Sierra Leone

May 20th: Birth of son, Leo Blair - the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister for more than 150 years.

June 7th: Speech to the Womens Institute[25] (heckled and slow handclapped)

September 5th: Fuel protests over rise in petrol prices[26]

September 26th: Speech to Labour Party Conference[27] " And they think: you're not listening. What's it got to do with me? Where is this journey's end? And a fog descends on the very dialogue between Government and people necessary to get there...And, yes, there are things we have done that have made people angry and we should be open enough to admit it.

RETURN TO TOP

2001

Legislation

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001[28] - enabled the home secretary to indefinitely detain, without charge or trial, foreign nationals who were suspected of terrorism, and . limited appeal, except on a point od law, to a closed commission.

Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001[29] - introduces on the spot penalties for disorderly behaviour; measures dealing with the consumption of alcohol in designated public places, the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18, drunkenness and disorder on licensed premises, permitting the police to close down licensed premises where disorder is occurring and measures to permit the police to close unlicensed premises selling alcohol

Events

February 15th: British and American aircraft attack targets outside Baghdad[4]

February 19th: Outbreak of foot and mouth disease[30] triggering a year-long farming crisis with the slaughter of thousands of pigs and cattle, and leading to calls for a public inquiry[5]

February 23rd: Meeting with President Bush[31] - "We reaffirm our determination to oppose the development or use of WMD and ballistic missiles by Saddam Hussein and the threat his regime poses to its neighbors, while seeking to protect the Iraqi people from the brutality of Saddam Hussein and his indifference to their humanitarian needs. We call on Iraq to comply with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions."

June: General election: - Labour re-elected by winning 413 of the 659 seats in the House of Commons on a reduced turnout (59 per cent).

September 11th: Terrorist attacks on the USA: four aeroplanes are hijacked by members of al-Qaeda; two are crashed into the World Trade Centre, New York, a third into the Pentagon, Washington.

October 1st: Speech to the Labour Party Conference[32] "For those people who lost their lives on September 11 and those that mourn them; now is the time for the strength to build that community. Let that be their memorial."

December: Afghanistan: the Security Council authorizes International Security Force for Afghanistan and welcomes United Kingdom’s offer to be initial lead nation. Resolution 1386 (2001) adopted unanimously[33]

Responsibility to Protect. Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty[34]

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2002

Legislation

  • Education Act 2002[35]
  • Enterprise Act 2002[36] - created the Office of Fair Trading and strengthened mergers policy.
  • NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002[37] - reformed the distribution of functions between Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and set up the Council for the Regulation of Health Care Professionals.
  • Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002[38]

Events

January 1st: The euro becomes the main currency across the European Union

January 15th Foundation hospital plan announced[39] - (independent self-governing legal entities with their own borrowing powers that are subject to the rules of the NHS but are independent of government departments and health authorities[40])

February 3rd: Speech at the Labour Party annual conference[41] We're at our best when we're at our boldest.

March 8th: Cabinet considers the Iraq "Options Paper"[42] (the paper concludes that: "despite the considerable difficulties, the use of overriding force in a ground campaign is the only option that we can be confident will remove Saddam and bring Iraq back into the international community").

April 8th: Meeting with President Bush at his ranch at Crawford, Texas ("The Crawford meeting") - including a one-to-one meeting with no advisers present: The only commitment I gave, and I gave this very openly, at the meeting was a commitment to deal with Saddam (Tony Blair in testimony to the Chilcot inquiry.[6]).


Speech at the George Bush Senior Presidential Library ("The Texas speech")[43] - "...we must be prepared to act where terrorism or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threaten us...If necessary the action should be military and again, if necessary and justified, it should involve regime change... leaving Iraq to develop WMD, in flagrant breach of no less than nine separate UN security council resolutions, refusing still to allow weapons inspectors back to do their work properly, is not an option.

September 24th: Publication of the Joint Intelligence Committee's dossier of evidence concerning Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, with a foreword by Tony Blair[44] in which he said ""What I believe the assessed intelligence has established beyond doubt is that Saddam has continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.".

November 8th: United Nations Resolution 1441[7] - "Recalling that its resolution 678 (1990) authorized Member States to use all necessary means to uphold and implement its resolution 660 (1990) of 2 August 1990 and all relevant resolutions subsequent to resolution 660 ...Decides that Iraq has been and remains in material breach of its obligations under relevant resolutions".

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2003

Legislation

  • Anti-social Behaviour Act[45] - gave police new powers to deal with misbehaviour
  • Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003[46]
  • Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission etc.) Act 2003 [47]

Events

January 23rd: Meeting with President Bush (at the Chilcot inquiry in 2010, Tony Blair answered yes to the question Was your main objective at that meeting to convince the President that, just as you had convinced him that it was important to go through the UN to get the first resolution, that now it was necessary to get a second resolution? [8]).

February 3rd: Publication of second intelligence dossier Iraq-its infrastructure of concealment, deception and intimidation[48] (this document was removed from the national archives in April 2010)

February 5th: US secretary of state's address to the United Nations Security Council[49]. "Iraq has now placed itself in danger of the serious consequences called for in U.N. Resolution 1441. And this body places itself in danger of irrelevance if it allows Iraq to continue to defy its will without responding effectively and immediately".

March 4th: Mori poll indicates that 75% of Britons are in favour of an Iraq war[50].

March 7th: Attorney General's advice [9] - "... I remain of the opinion that the safest legal course would be to secure the adoption of a further resolution to authorise the use of force ... Nevertheless, I accept that a reasonable case can be made that resolution 1441 is capable in principle of reviving the authorisation in 678 without a further resolution."

March 17th: Resignation speech by Robin Cook (Leader of the House of Commons) [10] - " Britain is being asked to embark on a war without agreement in any of the international bodies of which we are a leading partner".

March 18th: Declaration of war. The House of Commons motion that the Government should "use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction"[51] was carried. Tony Blair, proposing, said : "To retreat now, I believe, would put at hazard all that we hold dearest, turn the UN back into a talking shop, stifle the first steps of progress in the Middle East; leave the Iraqi people to the mercy of events on which we would have relinquished all power to influence for the better". The voting for/against was 412/149. (Labour 254/84, Conservative 146/2 Lib Dem 0/52[52])

March 17th: Ultimatum to Iraq by President Bush "All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end. Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict ..."[53].

March 20th: Iraq War - US forces launch first air strikes on Baghdad.

March 27th: The "Coalition of the Willing": The White House lists 49 countries that have offered to support "Operation Iraq Freedom"[54] including Japan, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the UK.

May 1st: President Bush declares an end to major combat operations in Iraq

May 12th Resignation letter from cabinet minister Clare Short[11] - "the assurances you gave me about the need for a UN mandate to establish a legitimate Iraqi government have been breached".

May 29th: On the BBC's Today programme, defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan says that he had been "told by one of the officials in charge of the dossier that, actually the government probably knew that the 45 minute figure was wrong even before it had decided to put it in" and that "Downing Street... ordered it to be sexed up"

July 9th: The Ministry of Defence names Dr David Kelly, a biological warfare expert with the British Ministry of Defence as the source for Andrew Gilligan's report.

July 18th: David Kelly is found dead, apparently having committed suicide.

July 17th: Address to the US Congress, accepting the Congressional Gold Medal.

July 21st Announcement of an inquiry into the death of Dr Kelly to be led by Lord Hutton[55]

August 28th Tony Blair's testimony to the Hutton inquiry[56]

November: Meeting at Admiralty House at which Tony Blair promises to resign before the next election provided that Gordon Brown supports his policy agenda.

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2004

Legislation

  • Asylum and Immigration (treatment of claimants etc) Act[57]
  • Civil Partnership Act[58] enabled same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship by forming a civil partnership (marriage in all but name).
  • Higher Education Act 2004[59] - replaces the fixed student charge of £1125 by variable fees of up to £3000, and introduces student loans in place of fees.

Events

January 27th: Debate on the Higher Education Bill[60] 72 Labour MPs rebelled, and the government won by just five votes.

January 28th: The Hutton Report determines[12] that Kelly took his own life, and that the BBC allegations were unfounded. The chairman and director-general of the BBC, and Andrew Gilligan, the journalist who made the allegations, all resign.

February: Appointment of a panel to conduct an inquiry into pre-war intelligence, led by Lord Butler.

25 March: Talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, after Libya renounced weapons of mass destruction in December.

April 20th: Announcement of a proposed referendum on a new EU constitution.

June 15th: A New Relationship with Schools[61] published jointly by Ofsted and DfES .

July: 10-year science & innovation investment plan[13].

July 14th: The Butler report is published. It criticises the intelligence basis for claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and says that the assertion that Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was unsubstantiated. However, the report found no evidence the intelligence had been manipulated by Blair and his aides.

September 15th: Speech on the urgent need for action on climate change.

September 30th: Iraq Survey Group Final Report[62] - "There is an extensive, yet fragmentary and circumstantial, body of evidence suggesting that Saddam pursued a strategy to maintain a capability to return to WMD after sanctions were lifted by preserving assets and expertise. In addition to preserved capability, we have clear evidence of his intent to resume WMD as soon as sanctions were lifted".

October 1st: Tony Blair announces that if he wins the next election he will serve a full term[63].

October 13th Michael Howard accuses Tony Blair of lying about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction[64].

November: George Bush is re-elected President of the USA.


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2005

Policy documents and legislation

  • Constitutional Reform Act[65] - created a new Supreme Court; removed the Law Lords from membership of the House of Lords; changed the office of Lord Chancellor so that the holder is no longer the formal head of the judiciary; provided a statutory guarantee to uphold judicial independence and the rule of law.
  • Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005[66] - enables Ministers to issue a "control order"[67] (an order to place a terrorism suspect under close supervision).
  • White Paper Cm 6472 Controlling our borders: Making migration work for Britain[68] - A five-year plan to crack down on illegal immigrants and provide for their removal, including fines for colluding employers. A proposal for the introduction of a points system based upon industry's needs for skills.
  • White Paper Cm 6476 14-19 Education and Skills[69]

Events

May 5th: General election: the Labour government remains in power but with a much reduced parliamentary majority of 64 seats.

May 29th: French voters reject the EU proposed constitution in a referendum.

June 15-17: European Union summit[70] - British officials reject a budget plan for the years 2007-2013, after offering to freeze Britain's budget rebate in return for a guarantee that the EU's system of agricultural subsidies would be overhauled.

June 23rd: Speech to the European Parliament[71] "If we [are]... prepared to send back some of the unnecessary regulation, peel back some of the bureaucracy and become a champion of a global, outward-looking, competitive Europe -- then it will not be hard to capture the imagination and support of the people of Europe."

July 6th: London wins bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

July 7th: Suicide bombers kill 52 people in attacks on London mass transport.

July 8th: The G8 summit in Edinburgh, agrees to increase aid for developing countries by $50 billion.
"if we actually make sure that there is universal access, right, to HIV-Aids treatment by 2010, ... put the money we say we are going to put through aid and give primary education to young people in Africa ... . establish the peace-keeping force that we have got there, plus the money necessary to do it ... " (press conference 8 July 2005[72] )

November 9th: Government defeat in a House of Commons debate on the clause in Terrorism Act that would have enabled the police to detain a suspected terrorist for up to 90 days without charge.

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2006

Legislation

  • Education and Inspections Act 2006[73]
  • Equality Act 2006[74] - created the Equality and Human Rights Commission with a remit to make a progress report to Parliament every 3 years
  • Health Act 2006[75]: Prohibited of smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces.
  • Identity Cards Act[76] - created the legal framework to establish a national identity register and to issue identity cards (never applied to British citizens)
  • Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act[77]
  • Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006[78] - provided for the restoration of devolved government
  • Racial and Religious Hatred Act
  • Terrorism Act 2006[79] -extends the maximum period of detention without trial of terrorist suspects from 14 to 28 days.

Events

May 23rd: Labour back bench revolt over schools bill[80]

July 12th: Fundraiser Lord Levy[14] is arrested and bailed by police as part of their investigation of the "cash for honours" allegations[81].

September 5th: One minister and four government aides are among 17 Labour MPs who have written to Tony Blair urging him to quit[82].

September 7th: Tony Blair confirms that he will step down as prime minister within the next 12 months[83].

September 12th: Tony Blair's last speech to the Trades Union Congress.

September 26th: Speech to the Labour Party Conference[84]

October 13th: The St Andrews Agreement[85] between the governments of the UK and Ireland that lead to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

November 15th: The Queen's Speech to the State Opening of Parliament - Tony Blair's final legislative programme[86]

December 14th: Police interview Tony Blair about the "cash for honours" allegations.

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2007

May 8th: Restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive[87]. - announced by the Reverend Ian Paisley, head of the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and Gerry Adams, head of the Catholic Sinn Fein. "We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children." (Ian Paisley). "The beginning of a new era of politics on this island." (Gerry Adams).

May 10th: Resignation speech at his Sedgefield constituency [88] "This is the greatest nation on earth. It has been an honour to serve it. I give my thanks to you, the British people, for the times I have succeeded, and my apologies to you for the times I have fallen short.

June 27th: Last Prime Minister's Questions "I wish everyone, friend or foe well, and that is that, the end."

2008

June: High Quality Care For All NHS Next Stage Review Final Report, [89]

RETURN TO TOP

2009

December 12th: Interview with Fern Britton[90] - asked whether he would still have gone on with plans to join the US-led invasion had he known at the time that there were no WMD. He said: "I would still have thought it right to remove him. I mean obviously you would have had to use and deploy different arguments, about the nature of the threat."

2010

January 29th: Tony Blair's evidence to the Iraq Inquiry [91] (transcript) [92] (Video)

March 9th: Report of House of Lords and House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights[93] - dealing with adverse judgments by the European Court of Human Rights and declarations of incompatibility issued by the domestic courts under the Human Rights Act.

2011

2012

Second statement to the Chilcot Enquiry [94]

References

References, with page numbers, to Tony Blair's memoirs (Tony Blair: A Journey, Hutchinson, 2010) are shown as "Journey (xxx)", and
references to Anthony Seldon's biography (Anthony Seldon: Blair, Free Press, 2004) are shown as "Blair (xxx)".